To Tempt a Wilde Read Free Page B

the smooth tone did nothing to disguise the distinct… menacing undertone.
    Althea’s heart leaped wildly against her chest as she stepped back, stopping only when her back brushed against the end of the stall.
    Caught, unable to move away any farther, her tonguecame out to moisten her bottom lip.
    Waiting for the fear to come, Althea wondered why instead she felt a feminine rush of awareness sliver along her spine as he advanced into the stall.

Chapter 3
    N ate advanced farther into the stall.
    His glance raked over the woman in one all- encompassing glance, from her long dark brown hair, pulled up into a messy ponytail, down over a snug-fitting T-shirt that molded her small, high breasts.
    His gaze then rolled over her long, jeans-clad legs and back up again, sliding over her face, cataloging each of her features slowly.
    To sayshe was beautiful was too…weak a description.
    Her features were perfectly spaced in her oval face; eyes so dark they appeared black, wide-set and faintly tilted in the corners. Her nose was narrow, with a slight flare at the ends of her nostrils.
    But it was her mouth that caught his attention, pulled him up short and made his cock thump against his zipper.
    Both lips were full, wide and sensual.And made hismind wander, for a split second, thinking of how they’d feel against his mouth, on his body…
    Her skin was the color of rich, dark honey, smooth and flawless. Decadent.
    His hands itched to run down the side of her face, down her throat. His tongue tingled, irrationally, with a need to trace it down the smooth column of her neck. To find out if it tasted as good as it looked.
    Thethoughts came out of nowhere, bringing him up short.
    Damn. Maybe his brothers were right. Maybe it had been too long since he’d been with a woman.
    His eyes met hers.
    Something tangible yet elusive passed between them as they made their silent observations of each other. Although her expression remained neutral, he caught the flicker of awareness in the dark depths of her eyes.
    The horse whinniedin the background, breaking the intense, sudden connection, dragging Nate’s attention away from the woman in front of him.
    A glance toward the horse showed it pawing at the ground before tossing its head back in a jerky movement. The ends of its nostrils flared as it kept its gaze on Nate. The animal had picked up on the sudden tension in the stable. Nate took a cautious step toward the near-wildbeast.
    When he brought his hand up to reassure the animal its neighing became louder as it pawed the ground, growing more agitated.
    The woman turned toward the horse and laid a hand over its hind end, her lips pursing, making a calming, shushing sound. Immediately the horse quieted, but stillit kept its amber-colored eyes on Nate, backing away from him until it stood between the two of them.The animal didn’t stop until it had positioned itself directly in front of her, as though it was protecting her from him.
    He saw the ghost of a smile break across the woman’s full mouth, tilting one side up, a glint of what looked like humor sparking in her dark eyes, surprising him. Again, he felt his body’s response, but ignored it.
    He brought his hand to the brim of his Stetson, tilting itin her direction.
    â€œMy name is Nathan. Nathan Wilde. What the hell are you doing in my stables, with my horse?” he asked.
    Â 
    When the tall cowboy tilted his hat toward her, the gesture oddly old-fashioned yet appealing to Althea, she slowly eased away from the wall, her hand remaining on the horse, soothing it.
    â€œMy name is Althea. Althea…Dayton.”
    She hoped he didn’t catch the hesitation. She’dused her mother’s maiden name, which was her middle name, for the last two years, as a means of helping to keep under the radar. The fact that she hesitated even that small bit was unnerving to her, something she’d never done before. The fact that he could rattle her